Method and device for predicting the travelling trajectories of a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A method and a device are proposed for predicting movement trajectories of a vehicle to prevent or reduce the consequences of an imminent collision, in which for predicting the movement trajectories, only those trajectories are considered for which, because of a combination of steering intervention and braking intervention, the forces occurring at the wheels of the vehicle are within the range corresponding to the maximum force transferable from the wheel to the road. Particularly for systems which provide an automatic braking and/or steering intervention for avoiding a collision or reducing the severity of a crash with another object, an automatic braking and/or steering intervention is carried out as a function of the pre-calculated movement trajectories.

[0001] A method and a device are proposed for predicting movement trajectories of a vehicle to prevent a collision or reduce the severity of the crash, in which for predicting the movement trajectories, only those trajectories are considered for which, because of a combination of steering intervention and braking intervention, the forces occurring at the wheels of the vehicle are, let us say, as great as the force transferable at a maximum from the wheel to the road. Particularly for systems which provide an automatic braking and/or steering intervention for avoiding a collision with another vehicle, an automatic braking and/or steering intervention is carried out as a function of the pre-calculated movement trajectories.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] In recent years, adaptive cruise controllers have increasingly come on the market which expand the conventional control of a vehicle-speed controller to the effect that the distance and relative velocity of the preceding vehicle are detected by a radar or lidar system, and this data is utilized for the speed control and/or distance control of one's own vehicle.

[0003] Such a system is described in the paper “Adaptive Cruise Control System-Aspects and Development Trends” by Winner, Witte et al., SAE paper 96 10 10, International Congress and Exposition, Detroit, Feb. 26-29, 1996.

[0004] In the publication “A Trajectory-Based Approach for the Lateral Control of Vehicle Following Systems” by Gehrig and Stein, made known at the IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Vehicles, 1998, an algorithm is put forward which, from the measured data of a radar or lidar sensor, creates a movement trajectory of the preceding vehicle, and controls one's own vehicle according to it. Particularly for movements in which both vehicles are driving into or out of a curve, special demands are made on such a trajectory algorithm. An algorithm of this type for determining movement trajectories is presented by way of example in the aforesaid document.

[0005] In the book “Fahrwerktechnik: Fahrverhalten” by Zomotor, from Vogel Book Publishing, Würzburg, first edition 1987, in chapter 2, “Forces on the Vehicle”, the theoretical fundamentals are explained which are necessary for understanding the transfer of force between tire and roadway.

ESSENCE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0006] When pre-calculating all possible movement trajectories of a preceding vehicle or of one's own vehicle, great demand for computing power is made on the prediction system for pre-calculating the further movement. This is especially because a great number of possible movements of the vehicle must be taken into account. Particularly in dangerous situations, in which a strong deceleration or a sharp steering movement must be expected, this large number of possible movements increases even further. Since in this case, a real-time processing of the movement trajectories is desired, it is necessary to use a powerful computer system. The essence of the present invention is to specify a method according to the main claim.

[0007] In this context, it is advantageous in calculating the movement trajectories, which in the case of an imminent collision may result from steering operations, braking operations or combined steering and braking operations, to be able to calculate them in advance. To minimize the computing expenditure, it is proposed that only those trajectories be pre-calculated for which, because of a combination of steering intervention and braking intervention, the force occurring at the wheels of the vehicle is in the range of the maximum force transferable from the wheel to the road. It is assumed that, in response to driving through one of these trajectories, the imminent collision with an object is prevented, or, in the event that a collision is not avoidable, it is at least possible to reduce the severity of the crash. To be understood by crash severity is, in this case, the extent of damage from the collision, which is dependent on the impact energy, but also, for example, on the constitution of the object. Thus, for example, given equal impact energy, the crash severity for a collision with a concrete wall is greater than for a collision with a preceding vehicle.

[0008] This method for pre-calculating movement trajectories may advantageously be used on one's own vehicle that is equipped with a radar, lidar or video system, but also on other vehicles detected by the surroundings sensor system.

[0009] It is also advantageous that the surroundings sensor system is composed of a radar sensor, a lidar sensor, a video sensor or a combination thereof. If a vehicle is equipped with more than one surroundings sensor, it is possible to ensure a more reliable and higher-resolution detection.

[0010] Moreover, it is advantageous that the maximum force transferable from the wheel to the road may be corrected as a function of an instantaneous situation. In particular, this maximum transferable force may change due to wetness or snow on the roadway. To ascertain the instantaneous roadway coefficient of friction, which co-determines the maximum force transferable from the wheel to the road, the signals from an anti-lock device and/or an electronic stability program are utilized. Moreover, it is also conceivable that signals from further surroundings sensors, such as advantageously a rain sensor or a poor-weather detection, are utilized by the radar, lidar or video sensor system for determining the instantaneous wheel-slip value.

[0011] In addition, it is advantageous that the predicted movement trajectories are used for the automatic control of the deceleration devices and/or for the automatic control of the vehicle steering devices, in order to avoid an imminent collision with a preceding vehicle or object.

[0012] Of particular importance is the implementation of the method according to the invention in the form of a control element provided for a control unit of an adaptive distance and/or speed control of a motor vehicle. In this context, the control element has stored on it a program that is executable on a computing element, particularly on a microprocessor or an ASIC, and is suitable for carrying out the method of the present invention. Thus, in this case, the invention is realized by a program stored on the control element, so that this control element provided with the program constitutes the present invention in the same way as the method, for whose execution the program is suitable. In particular an electrical storage medium, e.g. a read-only memory, may be used as control element.

[0013] Further features, uses and advantages of the present invention come to light from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention which are shown in the figures of the drawing. In this context, all of the described or represented features, alone or in any combination, form the subject matter of the present invention, regardless of their combination in the claims or their antecedents, as well as regardless of their formulation and representation in the specification and drawing, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0014] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained with reference to the Drawing, in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 shows a sketch of the forces which may occur at a maximum on a wheel without it losing its road adhesion;

[0016]FIG. 2 shows an illustrative traffic situation in which the method of the present invention is advantageously used;

[0017]FIG. 3 shows a braking force/time diagram of the trajectories depicted in FIG. 2;

[0018]FIG. 4 shows a diagram depicting the evasion paths of the various trajectories from FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0019]FIG. 1 shows a construction in which forces 3, 4, 7 occurring at a wheel 1 are drawn in. This construction is also known by the name Kamm circle. The plan view shows a wheel 1 through which a dot-dash line 5 is drawn in the longitudinal direction, and a dot-dash line 6 is drawn in the transverse direction. The forces which occur between a wheel and the roadway may be divided into the longitudinal direction, thus parallel to dot-dash line 5, and the transverse direction, thus parallel to dot-dash line 6. The additionally occurring vertical force, resulting due to the weight of the vehicle, is not shown in this sketch. A force arrow 3, representing the longitudinal forces acting on the tire, is drawn in parallel to line 5. These longitudinal forces are generally deceleration and acceleration forces which influence the vehicle in the straight-ahead direction. Moreover, a force arrow 4 is marked in which acts parallel to transverse line 6. These lateral forces, represented by this force arrow 4, develop due to steering movements of the vehicle, and cause the vehicle to change direction. A force arrow 7 is also shown which represents the diagonal of a rectangle that is constructed on the two force arrows 3 and 4. This force arrow 7 embodies the resulting force of both individual forces 3, 4 in the longitudinal and transverse directions. Thus, force arrow 7 represents a position vector with origin in the point of intersection of lines 5 and 6, whose length and direction are determined by the amounts of the individual components longitudinal force 3 and transverse force 4. If one plots in this construction all points at which the resultant force of the longitudinal and lateral forces is the same amount as the product of the maximum coefficient of friction between roadway and tire μmax and vertical force Fn (not marked in) acting on the wheel, then one obtains a circle whose center point corresponds to the point of intersection of lines 5 and 6. If force 7 resulting from longitudinal force 3 and transverse force 4 is greater according to the amount than the product μmax*Fn, then the end of the position vector of the resulting force lies outside of constructed circle 2. In this case, the wheel has already lost its adhesion to the roadway. If one would like to move a vehicle in such a way that the adhesion of the wheels to the roadway is present at any time, then it is necessary that the adhesion of the wheels to the roadway is present at any time. Thus, it is necessary to assure that resultant force 7 from longitudinal force 3 and transverse force 4 is smaller according to the amount at each point of time than circle 2 constructed owing to the coefficient of friction and the vertical force.

[0020]FIG. 2 shows a possible traffic situation. One sees a road 8 upon which two vehicles 9, 10 are moving. The movements of vehicles 9, 10 are indicated by velocity arrows v1, v2. Vehicle 9 following preceding vehicle 10 is equipped with a device according to the present invention for carrying out the method according to the invention. If velocity v1 of vehicle 9 is very much greater than velocity v2 of vehicle 10, then in this case there is a risk of collision, since distance 15 between the two vehicles is not sufficient to avoid this collision by a maximum possible deceleration of vehicle 9. If in this case an automatically triggered emergency braking were used, then a trajectory as represented by single-dotted arrow 13 would result for the further vehicle movement. In this case, it is possible that distance 15 between the two vehicles 9 and 10 will not be sufficient to come to a standstill in time. In the event of such a full-brake application without steering movement, longitudinal force 3 would assume a maximum value μmax*Fn; lateral force 4 would be equal to zero.

[0021] Another possibility for avoiding a collision in the traffic situation described would be a pure evasion maneuver. In this case, one would not carry out a braking intervention, but rather would prefer as sharp a steering angle as possible. Such a procedure is represented by double-dotted movement trajectories 11 and 12. In this case, one would have a longitudinal force 3 equal to zero and a maximum transverse force 4 in the construction of Kamm circle 2. During this maneuver, it may easily happen that, due to too sharp a steering angle, the maximum possible lateral force is exceeded and the vehicle goes into a spin. Ideally, a combined braking and steering intervention, as is represented by triple-dotted movement trajectory 14, should be preferred in the traffic situation shown. To clarify the combined braking and steering intervention, reference is made to FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, a braking force/time diagram is shown in which the time is plotted on abscissa 16, and the braking force is plotted on ordinate 17. For the case of a full brake application as is represented in FIG. 2 by single-dotted movement trajectory 13, a braking force/time diagram results as is represented by single-dotted line 18. In the case of the emergency braking, this would be a horizontal line which would correspond to a maximum possible, constant braking-force value. The second alternative from FIG. 2, an evasion maneuver, as is represented by double-dotted movement trajectories 11 and 12, would correspond to double-dotted curve 19 in the braking force/time diagram of FIG. 3. In this case, the braking force over the time constant amounts to the value zero, since there is no deceleration of the vehicle. The combined braking and steering maneuver, ideally carried out by the vehicle, according to triple-dotted movement trajectory 14 is represented in the braking force/time diagram of FIG. 3 as a triple-dotted curve. In this case, there is very sharp deceleration at first, which means the braking force at small times has a high value. In the further course, curve 20 falls off, since the intensity of the deceleration is reduced in order to go over to a steering intervention. Through this combination of braking and steering, in a first phase in which braking force is high, velocity v1 of vehicle 9 is sharply reduced, in order to then carry out a steering maneuver in a second phase with only weak deceleration force, to avoid a collision with vehicle 10.

[0022]FIG. 4 shows a further diagram in which lateral evasion path y is plotted against longitudinal path x. In one partial area of this y-x diagram, a hatched area 26 is shown which represents the obstacle. This area 26 represents the region which the evasion trajectory must not touch, in order to prevent a collision. In the case of a full brake application according to movement trajectory 13 from FIG. 2, a likewise single-dotted curve 23, which indicates the spatial movement of the vehicle, results in this y-x diagram. Since in this case no steering maneuver takes place, this single-dotted line 23 lies on the x axis. Because of small distance 15 between both vehicles 9 and 10, as of point 27, line 23 touches hatched area 26 which represents the obstacle. As of this point of time, there is a collision of vehicle 9 with the object, vehicle 10 in the case shown.

[0023] The pure steering maneuver as is represented in FIG. 2 by double-dotted movement trajectories 11 and 12 is represented in the y-x diagram of FIG. 4 as a likewise double-dotted line 24. Value y increases continually as a function of path x, which embodies the cornering of vehicle 9. As of value 27, line 24 also again touches hatched area 26 which represents the obstacle. A collision of both vehicles 9 and 10 would occur in this case, as well.

[0024] The combined braking/steering maneuver according to triple-dotted movement trajectory 14 is represented in the y-x diagram of FIG. 4 as a likewise triple-dotted line 25. The initially weak steering movement, but strong braking deceleration, causes curve 25 to run very flat at the beginning, but as it continues it increases very sharply in the direction of greater y-values, since the braking deceleration is reduced and the steering intervention is intensified. Due to a strongly reduced initial velocity, it is possible to later carry out a sharper steering movement than is represented by line 24. In this case, it is possible to prevent the collision of the two vehicles.

[0025] The method of the present invention calculates all possible movement trajectories which between the two extreme trajectories shown, namely, on one hand, a pure full brake application without steering intervention 13, and on the other hand, a maximum possible steering movement without braking intervention 11 or 12; however, all the calculated trajectories have in common that the forces affecting the wheels correspond, say, to the forces lying on the Kamm circle.

[0026] In this context, a very great number of possible movement trajectories is possible. The trajectories which, within their course, have points at which the force resulting from the longitudinal and lateral components becomes considerably greater or considerably smaller than is permitted by the Kamm circle in FIG. 1 remain unconsidered. The computing expenditure for trajectory estimation is thereby reduced considerably. In these cases, the considered trajectory would lead to a loss of wheel adhesion on the road. Accordingly, those movement trajectories prove to be actually useful and executable which, viewed over their entire further course, only just have a sufficient frictional grip of the wheels on the roadway at each point of time.

[0027] The frictional grip of the wheel on the roadway is variable due to changes in the weather conditions or the outside temperature. To take these changes of the coefficient of friction μmax into account, the radius of Kamm circle 2 is constantly updated. This is accomplished, for example, by taking into account the outside temperature, by taking into account the weather conditions, in that a signal from a rain sensor is supplied, and in that interventions of an anti-lock device or an electronic stability program are evaluated, and changes in the coefficient of friction are passed on to the automatic emergency braking system. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for predicting movement trajectories (11, 12, 13, 14) of a vehicle (9) for preventing a collision or reducing the crash severity, wherein for predicting the movement trajectories of the objects, only those trajectories are considered for which, because of a combination of steering intervention and braking intervention, forces (3, 4) occurring at the wheels of the vehicle are within the range of force (7) transferable at a maximum from the wheel to the road.
 2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the objects are one's own vehicle (9) and/or further objects (10) detected by a surroundings sensor system.
 3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the surroundings sensor system is a radar sensor, a lidar sensor, a video sensor or a combination thereof.
 4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein for ascertaining the instantaneous maximum force (7) transferable from the wheel to the road, additional signals from an anti-lock device and/or an electronic stability program are utilized, by which the slip limit of the wheels may be determined.
 5. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein a collision of one's own vehicle (9) with an object (10) detected by the vehicle surroundings sensor system is avoided, or an unavoidable crash is reduced, by using the predicted movement trajectories (14) for the automatic control of the deceleration devices and/or for the automatic control of the vehicle steering devices.
 6. A device for predicting movement trajectories of objects, wherein signals from one or more surroundings sensor systems are supplied to this device, and prediction means are provided for pre-calculating movement trajectories, only those movement trajectories being pre-calculated for which, because of a combination of steering intervention and braking intervention, the forces occurring at the wheels of the vehicle are within the range of the force transferable at a maximum from the wheel to the road.
 7. The device as recited in claim 6, wherein the movement trajectories for one's own vehicle and/or for further objects detected by the surroundings sensor system are calculated.
 8. The device as recited in claim 6 or 7, wherein provided in the device are output means, by which the vehicle deceleration devices and/or the vehicle steering devices may be actuated automatically. 